On Track Off Road No.184

FEATURE
Watching the array of technology
and talent on display
gave appreciation for some of
that 40 million budget: still a
hefty whack for Europe’s largest
motorcycle manufacturer
now spitting out more than
200,000 two-wheelers a year.
Apart from all the riders and
three different kinds of MotoGP
machine under the lights
(kudos for the Torro Rossostyle
blue/chrome Red Bull
livery and there is, of course,
that potent test team of Mika
Kallio and Dani Pedrosa in
the wings) the Austrian drinks
brand was also omnipresent.
Thanks to their backing KTM’s
acquisition of the Tech3 squad
filled several purposes.
Principally it is to accelerate
their scaling of the MotoGP
standings. “In the premier
class two motorcycles is not
enough to be able to develop
technology up until the highest
level,” said Beirer. “So
having a second team in the
MotoGP gives us an amazing
feeling that our system is in
place. “
It also doubles the amount of
RC16s circulating the nineteen
circuits of the series and
forms part of a ‘progression’
philosophy that Red Bull are
keen to implement. Hafizh
Syahrin (attempting just his
second season in MotoGP
and an important focus point
for the Asian market and ‘hot
spot’ in MotoGP) and Miguel
Oliveira (a rookie for 2019 and
twice a near-title winner for
KTM also their very first rider
to come through the KTM
‘ladder’ of Moto3/Moto2) are
very much ‘work in progress’
talent. Tech3 might have been
used to grand prix podiums
and contention for spoils
thanks to the likes of Andrea
Dovizioso, Cal Crutchlow, Pol
Espargaro, Bradley Smith and
Johann Zarco in recent years
but the new line-up definitely
nudges the emphasis of their
roster towards youth and
promise.
“We started this slowly,” said
Red Bull Motorsports Manager
Thomas Überall “and grew it
very ‘safely’ over the years
and we are very happy to have
two MotoGP teams in the
end: one that is fighting for
podiums – I can say this now
because we did it last year –